Loading dock door seal extender

Abstract

A loading dock door seal structure wherein compressible members or pads are located adjacent the top and sides of the door to engage the rear end of a truck cargo body that is backed into loading and unloading position. The pads serve to provide a seal, however, they are spaced outwardly away from the wall of the building adjacent the door frame to leave gaps. Brackets are provided at the top and sides of the door frame and secured thereto, but extend outward and have lateral legs parallel to the building wall that serve as a mount for the seal pads. The brackets also have longitudinal legs extending perpendicular to the doorframe and outwardly therefrom in the gap between the pads and the doorframe. Flexible fabric seal strips are secured to the longitudinal legs of the bracket to close the gaps between the pads and the wall building.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In a loading dock seal structure supported along the outside top and sides of a door frame adjacent a loading dock doorway, said structure including a top member and two parallel side members to sealingly engage the top and sides of the end of a truck cargo body backed into loading and unloading position relative to said doorway, the improvement which comprises means for supporting the seal structure in a position spaced from the plane of the outside wall adjacent the doorway, said means including a plurality of brackets, at least two of which are attached to each of the top and sides of the door frame   each bracket having a longitudinal leg and a lateral leg perpendicular to the longitudinal leg, the longitudinal leg extending perpendicular to the doorway and outwardly therefrom and the lateral leg extending outwardly parallel to the outside wall adjacent the doorway from the outward end of the longitudinal leg,   the lateral legs being adapted to support the top member and side members in their respective position to engage the truck cargo body, and   a top seal strip and two side seal strips attached to the longitudinal legs of said brackets to close and seal the gaps defined by the space between the top and side members of the seal structure and the doorway of the loading dock.   
     
     
       2. A seal structure support as defined in claim 1 wherein said longitudinal leg of said brackets has an outer length portion that is fastened to the door frame. 
     
     
       3. A seal structure support as defined in claim 2 wherein said brackets are formed of metal bar stock of generally rectangular cross section. 
     
     
       4. A seal structure support as defined in claim 3 wherein each bracket has a diagonal brace extending between said longitudinal leg and said lateral leg.